THE BUNS. TO THE EDITOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6192, 13 December 1881, Page 4

THE BUNS. TO THE EDITOR

Sin,—Although it is all but hopeless in the present state of the law and of public opinion to expect that any warning will avert the fatal sacrifice of the public interest now in contemplation in dealing with the public lands of Otago, yet having, as a representative in the Provincial Council for 'several years of a portion of the community, been much interested in the matter, and having given in that capacity full consideration to the subject, and fully discussed it with others who had, both here and in other Colonies, great experience of the practical working of different systems of administration, I venture to record my earnest protest against dealing with the pastoral lands of Otago in the way now proposed by the Government and provided for by " The Waste Land Act, 1876." It has always been the understanding that the pastoral tenants would in time give place to settlers. Against this the whole body of runholders have fought with varying success. In many cases they have succeeded in converting so much of their runs into freeholds that the interests of settlement have in no way been benefited by the determination of their tenancy. At the present time the number of squatters is comparatively small; they are mostly in good circumstances, and are, so far as their ability to fulfil their obligations is concorned, good tenants. It is now deliberately proposed to evict those good tenants, to subdivide their runs into small blocks, and to let those blocks by auction to the highest bidders. As it is proposed to sell the whole at once, it is most likely that all that is worth having will fall into the hands of the present holders. Sheuld this bo the result, clearly nothing has been gained by the State, but the present holders have got a worse tenure than before. But should the avowed purpose of the proposed subdivision bo fully accomplished, the State will hava gained an average of perhaps five bad tenants instead of one good one, and the pastoral influence will bo increased in oven a greater proportion. By the auction system tho. State secures as tenants tho most reckless bidders at auction, and what has already taken placo under the deforred-payment systom will assuredly recur with tho new pastoral lessees ; the rents will have to bo remitted. Tho proposed tonancy under the Act is absolutely destitute of all the elements which are now admitted an necossary and, fair. Thoro is neither fair rent nor fixity of tonuro ; but depend upon it, the increased number of the new tenantry will have influence enough to secure both. Does anyone seriously contemplate the possibility of over getting rid of thoso small squatters again? Tho greater their inability to comply with the conditions of ' tlioir tonuro the more fiorcoly will thoy Htrugglo to get rid of them, and to evict a tenant who has made his homo and spent many of his years on a holding will noither be a pleasant nor popular task. Tho large runholders did not submit to bo led as sheep to tho slaughter, nor were they dumb before their shearers ; but any attempt to shear tho small runholdor, oven in the interost of settlement, will rosult in a great cry and little wool. Nor let my mining friends hopo that the small men will show them greater favour than their predecessors. Thoir necessities being greater, thoy will tho more strictly insist upon their rights, and neithor minors nor their belongings will bo permitted to invade their domains. Bettor far to ronew the leases of the present tenants for periods varying in accordance with tho expected requirements of sottleinent than creato a largo claBS of needy and reckless tenants, whoso tenure at a rack rent will bo in namo little botter than a tonancy at will, but will in fact rosolvo itself into a perpetuity on such terms as the tenants may please to dictate.—l am, &0., . John Mouat. December 12th.